John pi



(No Model.)

J. H. CLARK.

CONTROLLER POR ELEVATORS Deo. 1, 1891,

uwlllll l INVENTOR: @hw/HULV. @www JOHN H. CLARK, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGN OR TO NiTnD STATES THE IV HITTIER MACHINE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CONTROLLER FOR ELEVATORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 464,452, dated December 1, 1891. Application filed April 9, 1891. Serial No. 388,217. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. CLARK, of Boston, county of Suffolk, and State of Massa# chusetts, have invented an Improvement in Controllers for Elevators, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters and figures on the drawings representing like parts. v

This invention in elevator mechanism relates to that class of elevators in which the motor mechanism employed to actuate the elevator car or platform is controlled by operating what is commonly called the shipperrope. In elevator mechanism the motor mechanism is of a given or predetermined capacity-that is, it is capable ot' furnishing power sufficient to lift a given'load or weightand in practicekthe extent to which the motor mechanism is operated is governed by the particular work required-namely, the load to be lifted. In practice the extent to which the motor mechanism is operated is controlled by the operator on the elevator moving the shipper-rope a greater or less extent, according to the exigencies of the case. As now commonly practiced, the operator on the elevator car or platform moves the shipper-rope sufficiently to overcome the load on the car and to lift the same. The load to be lifted may be a varying one, and especially is this true in passen ger-elevator service-as, for instance, when starting from one floor of a building (for instance, the first floor) a maximum load is required to be lifted, but at the second floor the load is diminished, as by persons leaving the elevator at the said floor. Then starting from the first floor, the operator moves the shipper-rope in one direction until the car ascends, and then moves it in the opposite direction until the car stops. As the shipperrope is moved in the opposite direction, the power is reduced, and it frequently happens that the power is not entirely out off, but is merely counterbalanced by the load in the car, so that when the load is reduced, as by one or more persons leaving the elevator at the second floor, the equilibrium is destroyed and the power predominates, thus again starting the elevator in operation, and thereby giving rise to liability of accident, as the elevator may start while a passenger is in the act of leaving the elevator-car. This liability of accident is largely augment-ed in elevators employing electricity as the motive power.

My present invention hasfor its object to provide a shipper mechanism, as will be described, Whereby the motor mechanism may be entirely cut oif or rendered inoperative when the car is stopped, and this fact -is made known to the operator on the elevator car or platform.

In accordance with my invention the shipper-rope is passed about a series of pulleys or sheaves carried by the carin such manner, as will be described, that the movementof one set of pulleys on the car will be multiplied on the shipper-rope, whereby a limited movement of the shipper mechanism willvproduce a substantially-increased movement of the shipper-rope and of the parts of the motor mechanism attached thereto.

The lparticular features of my invention4 hoisting ropes or cables a', passed about pnl# leys or sheaves c2 at or near the top of the elevator well or shaft, the said hoisting ropes or cables being secured in any suitable or desired manner to the elevator car or platform a3. The Winding drum or drums a-there being only one herein shown-is fast on a shaft a4, driven by suitable gearing, deriving motion, as herein represented, from the armature-shaft a5 of an electric motor a, which may be of any usual or well-known construction.

The motoi` mechanism does not form part of my present invention, and consequently need not be specifically described, but may be described in general as follows, viz: The

IOO

drum-shaft d* has fast on it a gear in mesh with a gear on a shaft a7, and the said gears are preferably rotated by means of a right and left worm on a shaft, preferably detachable from, but secured to, the armature-shaft of the motor. The current to the motor a6 is controlled, as herein sl1own,by a switch 1J, cooperating with a resistance 1) in circuit with the motor. The switch 1), as represented, is operated from a shaft, upon which is mounted the shipper sheave or pulley b2, about which is passed the shipper-rope b3.. I prefer to use one continuous shipper-rope b3; but, it' desired, the said rope may be divided into two parts and one end of both parts secured to the shipper sheave or pulley b2.

In accordance with my invention the shipper-rope is passed about two sets of guides, preferably sheaves or drums carried by .the elevator-cara". One set of guides carried by the car comprises, as shown, two sheaves or drums 1)* 125, having their shafts supported in fixed or stationary bearings on the car, they being herein shown as located at the top of the car. The other set of guides also comprises, as herein shown,two sheaves or drums 1) 137, having their shafts supported in movable bearings, preferably levers 19S, only one of which is shown, it being pivoted, as at 1J", in brackets 1910, depending from the car. The shipper-rope 113 has its ends rigidly fastened near the top of the elevator-well, they being represented as fastened to the cross-bar 512, which supports the hoisting-sheaves a2. The movement of the lever b8 is multiplied on the shipper-rope in accordance with my invention by passing the said shipper-rope about the sheaves on the cai' to form one or more loops, according to the extent it is desired to multiply the said movement.

As herein represented the shipper-rope is passed about the sheaves or drums on the car to form a single loop, by which the movement of the lever 178 is doubled on the shipper-rope, and the shipper-wheel 122 is turned twice as far as it would be if the shipper-rope were passed over the sheaves in a direct mannerthat is, without being doubled on itself to form loops. The loops referred to may be formed as follows, viz: One end of the shipper-rope-for instance, the end markedQ-is fastened to the cross-bar, and the said rope is then passed down under the sheave 11G, up over the sheave b4, then down under the shippersheave 122, up over the sheave 125, then down under the sheave 117, and then up to the crossbar 1912, where its other end 3 is made fast, as described. The portions of the shipper-rope between the sheaves or drums 19419G and marked 4 5, and the corresponding portions between the sheaves or drums 115 1)T and marked 6 7, form the loops referred to, which are lengthcned and shortened according to the direction in which the elevator-car should travel. rlhe loops referred to are lengthened and shortened by turning the lever 118 on its pivotas, for instance, into its dotted-line position i that indicated by arrow 2l.

in Fig. 2. rlhe movement of the lever 118 is preferably accomplished, as shown in Figs. 1 and i2, by means of an auxiliary starting or operating rope c, passed about a pulley c near the top of the car and having its ends connected, as shown, to the lever 128 on opposite sides of the pivot b. The auxiliary or starting rope c is preferably provided with a button, pointer, or other indicating device c1, which registers with suitable marks; or it may be a scale c2, located within the car, the said scale, as represented, beingprovided with devices by which the exact extent of movement of the shipper-rope may be made known to the operator, and consequently the exact position of the parts of the motor mechanism operated by the shipper-rope is also made known. As represented in Fig. 1, the scale c2 is markedFull up, Stop, and Full down. Normally the indicator c10 is opposite the word Stop on the scale c2, and `the motor mechanism at such time is inoperative, `and when a motor mechanism as herein shown is used the'switch 1) is out of contact with thc resistance 1) and the current is cut olt from the motor. lf now it is desired to start the car upward, the operator moves one arm or branch of the auxiliary rope c in the direction of arrow 20, Fig. 2, and if it is desired to employ the full capacity of the motor the `said arm of the `auxiliary rope is moved in the direction of arrow 20 until the indicator C10 is opposite Full up on the scale. The movement of the 4auxiliary rope turns the lever 198 into its dotted-line position, Fig. 2, lengthens the loop 4 and 5, and rotates the shipper-wheel 112 in the direction of arrow2l, Fig. 2. Then the lever b is turned into its dotted-line position, the loop 6 and 7 is sh0rtened. As the shipper-wheel b2 is rotated in the direction of arrow 2l, the switch 1) is brought in contact with the resistance and the motor is started in operation. The movement of the lever bg but a substantially small distance is multiplied on the shipper-rope, so that when the indicator registers with Full up the switch is in contact with the least resistance and the motor is working at its full capacity. The point of least resistance may be represented by 10 in Fig. l. When it is desired to stop the travel of the carin an upward direction, the operator moves the indicator c1 to Stop on thescale, and the lever 128 is brought back to its normal or full-line position, Fig. 2, and the switch 1) is moved back over the resistance into its normal position (shown in Fig. l) out of contact with the resistance. If itis desired to descend, the indicator c10 is moved in a direction opposite to that indicated by arrow 20 until it registers with Full down. The lever 118 is turned into a position opposite to that indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 2, the loop 6 7 being lengthened, theloop 4 5 being shortened, and the shipper wheel or sheave 112 rotated in a direction opposite to The movement of the lever 118, as just described, again brings IOC tion at its full capacit-y.

the switch h to the point l0 of least resistance, and the motor is operating in a reverse direc- The movement of the switch-arm in the same direction to bring it into contact with the resistance is accomplished by means of a pinion d, to which the switch is connected, meshing with teeth d on one side of a slotted arm d2, fastened by a strap cl3 to a disk d4,'eccentrically mounted on a stud or shaft d5, secured to or foi-ming part of the shaft on which the shipper-sheave is mounted. The armature of the motor a is reversed on the downward movement of the indicator c10 on the auxiliary rope, and this may be accomplished by means of a suitable pole-changer, (not shown,) but which may be operated by the rock-shaft on which the shipper sheaveor wheel b2 is mounted. I prefer to employ the auxiliary rope c as the means by which to move the lever bs; but I do not desire to limit myself in this respect, as the said lever may be moved in any other desired manner--as, forinstance, by means of an arm d10, fast to the lever bs and extended into the car, as shown in Fig. 3. In practice the shipper-rope will preferably be located on the outside of the car and only the auxiliary rope c be located within the car.

By means of my improved shipper mechan ism the motor mechanism may be absolutely controlled and danger from accidental starting of the car is entirely obviated, for in all cases the operator on the car knows that when his indicator c10 registers with the word Stop on the scale c2 the motor is at such time inoperative. I prefer to construct the stationary set of guides on the car as sheaves or drums; but I do not desire to limit myself in this respect, as the said guides may be made in other forms-as, for instance, they may be rods, studs, or projections, over which the shipper-rope is passed. y By means of the multiplying-loops a limited movement of the auxiliary starting device or mechanism within the car produces a multiplied vmovement o t the shipper-rope.

I am aware that a shipper-rope has been passed about a stationary and a movable sheave, and I do notclaim such construction, broadly; but I am not aware that prior to my invention a shipper-rope has been passed over a stationary and a movable sheave so as to form a multiplying-loop, so that a limited movement of the movable sheave would produce a multiplied movement of the shipperrope.

I claiml. In an elevator mechanism, the combination, with the elevator car or platform, a motor mechanism to operate it, a fixed set of guides, and a movable set of guides carried by the said car or platform, of a shipper-rope passed about the said set of guides to form multiplying-loops 4 5 6 7 and connected to the motor mechanism and fastened at its ends to a stationary support, and means to operate the movable guides from the car, whereby a limited movement of the said movable guides shipper sheave or wheel of the motor mech'- anism, and an auxiliary rope toactuate the movable set of sheaves on the car, substantially as described.

3. In an elevator mechanism, the combination, with the elevator carA or platform, a motor mechanism to actuate it, and a fixed set of. sheaves or drums and a movable set of sheaves or drums carried by the said car or platform,

of a shipper rope or cable multiplied on itself about the said sets of sheaves to form -loops 4 5 y 6 7, as described, and connected to the shipper sheave or wheel of the motor mechanism, and an auxiliary rope to actuate the movable set of sheaves on the car, an indicator c10 on the auxiliary rope, and a scale on the car with which the indicator registers, a limited movement of the auxiliary rope producinga multiplied movement of the shipperrope, substantially as described.

4.' In an elevator mechanism, the combination, with the elevator car or platform, an electric motor mechanism to actuate it, a resist-l ance in circuit with the motor mechanism, a

switch cooperating with said resistance, a

shaft to which said vswitch is connected, and a shipper wheel or sheave on said shaft, of two sets of sheaves or drums carried by the elevator car or platform, one of the said sets being movable, as described, a shipper-rope doubled on itself about the sheaves or drums to form loops 4 5 G7 and passed about the shipper-wheel, and means to actuate the movable set of sheaves on the car, wherebyalimname to this specification in the presence of i two subscribing witnesses.

' JOHN H. CLARK.

Witnesses:

JAs. H. CHURCHILL, E. L. RICHARDS. 

